Panel edge and seal structure

ABSTRACT

A panel edging and seal structure fabricated from a polymeric material including a trim portion of a relatively rigid polymer and a sealing portion of a relatively flexible polymer. The sealing and trim portions, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of this invention, are extruded simultaneously from suitable polymeric material.

United States Patent 1 Smith 1451 Sept. 18,1973

[54] PANEL EDGE AND SEAL STRUCTURE 2,956,653 10/ 1960' Liskey, Jr.52/403 3,521,404 7/1970 Hager et al. [751 Inventor al Grand 3,526,0719/1970 Watanabe 52/403 1c [73] A w e Kidd & Comp". Inc FOREIGN PATENTSOR APPLICATIONS ss1gnee: a r e y,

1,173,666 12/1969 Great Brltam 52/126 Grand 452,163 5/l968 Switzerland52/126 [22] Filed: Feb. 16, 1971 Primary Examiner-Alfred C. Perham [2]]Appl' 1l5632 Attorney-Price, Heneveld, Huizenga & Cooper 52 us. c152/403, 52/623, 52/624 [57] ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl E04h 1/62 581 Field ofSearch 52/403 623 624- A edgmg and structure fabrlcated mm a 19/486 gpolymeric material including a trim portion of a rela- I tively rigidpolymer and a sealing portion of a relatively [56] References Citedflexible polymer. The sealing and trim portions, in accordance with thepreferred embodiment of this inven- UNITED STATES PATENTS tion, areextruded simultaneously from suitable poly- 3,396,501 8/1968 Tate 52 173meric mam-EL 2,256,206 9/1941 Knight 3,378,958 4/1968 Parks et a1.49/498 X 5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures I I E I I; "1 5 s L /4 L PATENTEDSE?! 8 I975 [LII/III Km @v 0/ m wm Q N 7 Z W T 2.. w

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a panel edge andseal structure of the type Utilized to trim the abutting edges ofstructural panels and, more particularly, to such structures embodyingmeans for sealing the joint between adjacent panels against the passageof air, water and -It is an object of this invention, moreparticularlysto provide a panel edge and seal structure which may besecurely affixed to the panel edge or edges, which will the like. In itsmore particular aspects, this invention relates to such a structureparticularly adapted for utilization in conjunction with panels such asthose utilizedin an elevated flooring system. The preferred embodimentof the invention, to be disclosed in detail hereinafter, relates to thelatter type of system although, as will be readily appreciated by thoseskilled in the art, the conceptual teachings to be found herein may wellfind applicability in other structural members such as wall panels andthe like.

In the construction of rooms or areas suitable for computer equipment,clean-room manufacturing, and the like it has become customary toutilize an elevated floor system such as is illustrated generally inFIG. 1 of US. Pat. No. 3,396,501. The utilization of such flooringsystems permits, as will be readily appreciated by those skilled in theart, the running of the various power and communication cables withinthe hollow space between the elevated floor and-the cement or other typeof structure such that these facilities may be provided in the room withminimum'difficulty. The cavities formed beneath the false floor canfunction, additionally, as return plenums in clean room systems, theelevated flooring panels ordinarily being perforate in this particularsituation.

Flooring panels. of the type under discussion, ordinarily are supportedin elevated relationship with respect to the-floor by means of a seriesof vertically adjustable pedestals. A gridwork of reinforcing andstabilizing struts may be-interconnected between the pedestals inaddition to the panels. One of the problems which has plagued the fieldheretofore has been the tendency of liquids such as water to seepbetween the panel edges when they are spilled on the elevated floor.Such seepage, as will be readily appreciated, can be extremelydetrimental in certain situations. Another problem which has causeddifficulty, where theare'a beneath the floor is being utilized as areturn air plenum, is the tendency of air to leak between acjacent floorpanels, such leakage detracting seriously from the efficacy of thesystems involved. v

The prior art includes many attempts to develop panel edging structureswhich will function effectively to seal adjacent panels so as to preventthe flow o'f liquid, air or the like therebetween. While many of theseattempts have met with moderate success, many problems have remainedunsolved. These problems concern themselves, primarily, with thesecurability of the seal to the flooring panel, the incorporationof atrim edge or the like along the edge of the panel and, of course, thecost factors involved in producing the particular items in question.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention,therefore, to provide a panel edge and seal structure which obviatesmany of the difficulties encountered with respect to prior artstructures, only the more important of which are outlined in thepreceding section of this application.

securely seal the space between adjacent panels against the leakage ofair, water and the like and yet, whichwill provide a highly decorativeand functional'edging o n the panel when viewed from the exposed surfacethereof. It is yet a further object of this invention to provide such' astructure which lends itself readily to highspeed, relatively low-costmanufacturing techniques and, thus, a structure which may be producedand installed with little difficulty and with relative economy. These aswell as other objects of this invention are achieved through theprovision of a trim-seal structure adapted particularly for attachmentto one or more of the peripheral edges of a panel, the panel beingadapted to be positioned adjacent a similar panel in edge-to-edgerelationship with the trim-seal structures, attached thereto incompressive abutment with one another. The trim-seal structure includesa first elongated the periphery of the panel after installation.Installation of the panels is effected such that the sealing portions ofthe structures compressibly abut one another and are resilientlydepressed toward the panel to which they are attached forming thedesired seal. In accordance with the preferred embodiment of thisinvention, the trim and seal portions are simultaneously and compositely extruded from suitable polymeric materials.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THEINVENTION This inventionwill be readily understood by those skilled in the art from areading ofthe following specification and accompanying figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, perspective view of the novel panel edge andseal structure; 1

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional elevation of the structure attached to atypical flooring panel;

' FIG. 4 is a fragmentary-cross-sectional elevation of two adjacentpanels in compressiveabutment illustrating the manner in which the sealportions of thestructure compressively abut one another to seal againstleakage of air, water or the like; and 7 FIG. 5 is an enlarged view ofthe seal portions illustrated in FIG. 4. 1 I 7 Referring now to thefigures, the trim. and seal edge 20 is adapted to be utilized inconjunction with a floor panel 10. The panel 10 includes a core 11having a metallic re-enforcing sheathing 12. Upon the surface-of thepanel to be exposed is suitably affixed a decorative tile surface member13 and the peripheral edged the panel is provided with an elongatedperipheral slot 14.

The particular panel structure illustrated in FIGS.3 and 4 is, ofcourse, merely illustrative of a rather large number of panelconfigurations in conjunction with which the structure of the instantinvention'may beutilized. The panel may, for example, be formed fromsuitably reinforced metal rather than wood and, in fact, may incorporatea decorative surface on either ofthe sides thereof such that it might beoriented vertically as a partition or the like. In the latter case, aswill become readily apparent hereinafter, the seal and trim structureillustrated would be modified slightly such that the exposed surfacesthereof were identical and the body or skirt portion thereof positionedparallel to the panel edge rather than canted as illustrated in thefigures.

The trim and seal edge includes a trim portion 21 having a planarexposable surface 22 along the upper edge thereof. From the uppersurface 22, the structure necks down in inverted L-shaped fashion into areduced thickness section 23, the exterior side of section 23 having aslottherealong forming a generally rectangular cavity 24.

Beneath or depending from the reduced thickness section 23 is a skirtsection 25 which section, in the case of a flooring panel, preferablyextends a substantial portion of the thickness of the panel in question.The skirt portion 25 terminates in an enlarged bearing portion 26 andthere is provided on the interior side of the strip an elongatedserrated tongue 27. Tongue 27, as is clearly illustrated in FIGS. 2through 4, extends preferably along the entire length of the structure20 and is received in somewhat compressed fashion within the peripheralslot 14 during installation of the strip 20 onthe panel edge. Thetongue, if desirable, may have a suitable adhesive placed thereon priorto installation on the panel edge or, of course, other means may beutilized, when necessary, to firmly secure the member 20, to the panel10.

The planar exposable surface 22 of the trim portion 21, as illustratedparticularly in FIGS. 3 and 4, is sized and positioned in the resultantproduct such that its upper surface forms substantially a planarcontinuation of the tile surface member 13, its under surface resting tosome degree preferably upon the edge of sheath 12 for vertical support.The resultant structure, as illustrated particularly in FIG. 4, permitsthe panels to be positioned adjacent one another'in compressive abutmentto form a continuous, level surface.

From an examination of FIGS. 1 and 3, it will be noted that the cavity24 in the member 20 is bounded on its exterior or exposed side by anoutwardly curved seal member 28, this particular component beingfabricated preferably from a polymeric material having relativelyflexible and compressible characteristics.

In accordance. with the preferred embodiment of this invention, themember 20 including the trim portion 21 and seal portion 28 iscontinuously and simultaneously extruded by well-known extrusiontechniques, the seal member 28 forming an-integral or composite part ofthe complete structure when the extrusion process has been completed.The particular polymeric materials utilized in such an extrusion processwill depend, of course, upon the particular use to which the resultantproduct is to be subjected although, in a vast majority of cases, vinylsmay be utilized with complete satisfac tion.

The member 20 is designed such that it cants with-respect to thevertical edge of the floor panel'10 after installation. This canting, aswill be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, is provided sothat a particular panel at any location in the floor can be'swun'gup-When the floor panels 10 are installed in compressive abutment such asillustrated in FIG. .4, the outer surfaces of the soft, resilient sealmembers 28 contact one another and resiliently depress toward and intothe cavities 24. The soft, resilient materials contacting one anotherprovide the desired seal against leakage of air, water or the like. I

When a particular panel is removed from the installation, the seal 28will resiliently expand to its original position and, when the panel isreinstalled, it will again compress in the manner shown in FIGS. 4 and 5to form the desired seal in connection with the seal member on theadjacent panel.

In the floor panel environment, of course, it is contemplated that thetrim and seal edge 20 will extend about the complete periphery of thefloor panel 10. Each side of the panel, thus, will be sealed against anadjacent floor panel in the manner described above. It should be noted,additionally, that sealing will be obtainedadjacent a wall or the likesince the seal member 28 will compress so long as the wall is incompressive abutment with the side of the panel member.

While a preferred embodiment of this invention has been illustrated indetail, it will be readily apparentto those skilled in the art thatotherembodiments may be conceived and fabricated without departing fromthe spirit and scope of this inventionQSuch otherembodiments are to bedeemed as included within the scope wardly without interference with thead acent panels permitting selective entry into the cavity beneath .thefloor for inspection, repair or the like.

of the following claims unless these claims, by their language,expressly state otherwise.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows. l I

l. A trim-seal structure adapted particularly for attachment to one ormore of the peripheral edges of a panel, the panel being adapted to bepositioned adjacent a similar panel in edge-to-edge relationship withthe trim-seal structures attached thereto in compressive abutment withone. another, said structure comprising:

an elongated trim portion having an exposable surface, said trim portionbeing formed from a relatively rigid polymer; 1

means for affixing one sideof said trim portion to the edge of saidpanel such that the exposable surface thereof lies in the general planeand forms a substantial continuation of one of the surfaces of saidpanel; sealing portion formed from arelativelyflexible polymerpositioned along the side of said trim portion opposite from saidaffixing means, said sealing portion extending outwardly beyond thegeneral plane of said opposite side of said trim and being resilientlydepressible toward said trim strip; said flexible polymer sealingportion and said relatively rigid polymer trim portion comprising asimultaneous extrusion wherein said sealing and trim portions areintegral, composite portions thereof; said trim portion including anelongated cavity along the said opposite side thereof, said sealingportion .bounding .the exposed side of said cavity. 2; The structure asset forth in claiml wherein said sealing portion comprises an elongated,curved seal member having its elongated edges integrally andcontinuously joined to the edges of said cavity.

'3. The structure asset forth in claim 2 wherein said panel comprises aflooring panel adapted to be positioned in elevated fashion adjacent aplurality of similar panels to form an elevated floor, and wherein saidtrimseal structure extends about the entire periphery of said panel suchthat the seal portions on adjacent sides of adjacent panels abut andresiliently depress one another.

4. A pair of trim-seal structures lying in abutting, sealing engagementwith one another along parallel edges of adjacent panel members; eachtrim-seal structure comprising a simultaneous extrusion formed from afirst polymer having a specified rigidity and flexibility and a secondpolymer having a rigidity less than said first polymer; said extrusionseach including an elongated trim portion having an exposed, planar,support surface and formed from said first polymer; means protrudingfrom one side of said trim portion for affixing said trim portion to anedge of one of said panel members such that said support surface lies inthe general plane and forms a substantial continuation of one of thesurfaces of said panel member, said affixing means formed from saidfirst polymer; and a sealing means formed from said second polymer; saidsealing means being integral with the side of said trim portion oppositesaid affixing means and extending in a curvilinear fashion beyond thegeneral plane of said opposite side; said sealing means on said adjacenttrim portions resiliently, compressively engaging one another therebyeffecting a waterproof, hermetic seal between said trimseal structures;said trim portion including an elongated cavity along the said oppositeside thereof, said sealing portion bounding the exposed side of saidcavity.

5. A floor panel edge and sealing structure adapted to be secured alongparallel, adjacent edges of floor panels elevated above a supportingsurface; said edge and seal structure forming a water-proof hermeticseal between said panels, said panels including upper and lower surfacesand peripheral edges; said edges including a peripheral slot extendingsubstantially around the entire periphery of said panel; the cornersbetween said edges and surfaces being reinforced with rigid, metallicplates following the contour thereof and extending a specified distanceacross said edges toward said slot; said upper surface being coveredwith a layer of tile or suitable similar floor covering; said edge andsealing structure comprising an elongated trim portion formed from afirst rigid polymer having an exposed support surface and a lipextending from one side of said trim portion forming an extension ofsaid exposed surface; an integral, protruding, elongated tongueextending along said one side of said trim portion formed from saidrigid polymer and including elongated, integral retaining meansprotruding along the length of said tongue'at spacedintervalsthereacross; said tongue being received in said slot andsecuring said trim portion to said panel edge at an inclined angle withsaid upper panel surface such that said exposed surface forms a flushcontinuation of the plane of said tile or floor covering while said lipis supported on said reinforced corner between said upper surface andperipheral edge; and an elongated, curvilinear sealing mem' ber formedsimultaneously with said trim portion and tongue from a second polymerless rigid and more resilient and flexible than said first polymer; saidsealing member extending along substantially the entire length of theside of said trim portion opposite said one side and extending beyondthe general plane of said opposite'side; said sealing member having itsends joined integrally during the extrusion of said edge and sealingstructure to the edges of an elongated cavity extending beneath saidsealing member along the length thereof and providing an integral spaceinto which said sealing member is compressed by a second sealing memberduring the compressive abutment ofsaid edge and sealing structureagainst a secondof said edgeand sealing structures secured to a secondadjacent floor panel whereby said water-proof, hermetic seal is formedtherebetween.

1. A trim-seal structure adapted particularly for attachment to one ormore of the peripheral edges of a panel, the panel being adapted to bepositioned adjacent a similar panel in edge-to-edge relationship withthe trim-seal structures attached thereto in compressive abutment withone another, said structure comprising: an elongated trim portion havingan exposable surface, said trim portion being formed from a relativelyrigid polymer; means for affixing one side of said trim portion to theedge of said panel such that the exposable surface thereof lies in thegeneral plane and forms a substantial continuation of one of thesurfaces of said panel; a sealing portion formed from a relativelyflexible polymer positioned along the side of said trim portion oppositefrom said affixing means, said sealing portion extending outwardlybeyond the general plane of said opposite side of said trim and beingresiliently depressible toward said trim strip; said flexible polymersealing portion and said relatively rigid polymer trim portioncomprising a simultaneous extrusion wherein said sealing and trimportions are integral, composite portions thereof; said trim portionincluding an elongated cavity along the said opposite side thereof, saidsealing portion bounding the exposed side of said cavity.
 2. Thestructure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sealing portion comprisesan elongated, curved seal member having its elongated edges integrallyand continuously joined to the edges of said cavity.
 3. The structure asset forth in claim 2 wherein said panel comprises a flooring paneladapted to be positioned in elevated fashion adjacent a plurality ofsimilar panels to form an elevated floor, and wherein said trim-sealstructure extends about the entire periphery of said panel such that theseal portions on adjacent sides of adjacent panels abut and resilientlydepress one another.
 4. A pair of trim-seal structures lying inabutting, sealing engagement with one another along parallel edges ofadjacent panel members; each trim-seal structure comprising asimultaneous extrusion formed from a first polymer having a specifiedrigidity and flexibility and a second polymer having a rigidity lessthan said first polymer; said extrusions each including an elongatedtrim portion having an exposed, planar, support surface and formed fromsaid first polymer; means protruding from one side of said trim portionfor affixing said trim portion to an edge of one of said panel memberssuch that said support surface lies in the general plane and forms asubstantial continuation of one of the surfaces of said panel member,said affixing means formed from said first polymer; and a sealing meansformed from said second polymer; said sealing means being integral withthe side of said trim portion opposite said affixing means and extendingin a curvilinear fashion beyond the general plane of said opposite side;said sealing means on said adjacent trim portions resiliently,compressively engaging one another thereby effecting a waterproof,hermetic seal betwEen said trim-seal structures; said trim portionincluding an elongated cavity along the said opposite side thereof, saidsealing portion bounding the exposed side of said cavity.
 5. A floorpanel edge and sealing structure adapted to be secured along parallel,adjacent edges of floor panels elevated above a supporting surface; saidedge and seal structure forming a water-proof hermetic seal between saidpanels, said panels including upper and lower surfaces and peripheraledges; said edges including a peripheral slot extending substantiallyaround the entire periphery of said panel; the corners between saidedges and surfaces being reinforced with rigid, metallic platesfollowing the contour thereof and extending a specified distance acrosssaid edges toward said slot; said upper surface being covered with alayer of tile or suitable similar floor covering; said edge and sealingstructure comprising an elongated trim portion formed from a first rigidpolymer having an exposed support surface and a lip extending from oneside of said trim portion forming an extension of said exposed surface;an integral, protruding, elongated tongue extending along said one sideof said trim portion formed from said rigid polymer and includingelongated, integral retaining means protruding along the length of saidtongue at spaced intervals thereacross; said tongue being received insaid slot and securing said trim portion to said panel edge at aninclined angle with said upper panel surface such that said exposedsurface forms a flush continuation of the plane of said tile or floorcovering while said lip is supported on said reinforced corner betweensaid upper surface and peripheral edge; and an elongated, curvilinearsealing member formed simultaneously with said trim portion and tonguefrom a second polymer less rigid and more resilient and flexible thansaid first polymer; said sealing member extending along substantiallythe entire length of the side of said trim portion opposite said oneside and extending beyond the general plane of said opposite side; saidsealing member having its ends joined integrally during the extrusion ofsaid edge and sealing structure to the edges of an elongated cavityextending beneath said sealing member along the length thereof andproviding an integral space into which said sealing member is compressedby a second sealing member during the compressive abutment of said edgeand sealing structure against a second of said edge and sealingstructures secured to a second adjacent floor panel whereby saidwater-proof, hermetic seal is formed therebetween.